Horizon Europe Delivers Up to €11 in Economic Gains for Every Euro Invested

Horizon Europe is poised to generate significant economic and societal benefits. According to a recent evaluation by the Commission, for every euro invested by EU society, the programme is expected to generate up to six euros in benefits for EU citizens by 2045. In terms of economic growth, each euro of EU contribution is projected to generate up to €11 in GDP gains by 2045.

With a total budget of €93.5 billion, Horizon Europe is central to enhancing European competitiveness and innovation strength. The evaluation highlights the following key conclusions:

• Impact: At its halfway point in January 2025, the programme has funded over 15,000 projects with a combined budget of more than €43 billion. Initiatives such as fuel cell electric buses in European cities, new antibiotics, and accessible artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for the scientific community highlight Horizon Europe's tangible impact.
• Scientific excellence: 80% of projects funded by the European Research Council have led to scientific breakthroughs or major advances. Since their launch in 1984, EU research and innovation programmes have supported 35 Nobel Prize winners.
• Innovation: Every euro invested in innovative companies through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund has attracted over three euros from private investors. This shows that the EIC - a novelty under Horizon Europe - is a game-changer in EU support for startups and scaleups.
• Participation: Efforts to close the research and innovation divide among EU Member States are yielding positive results. The share of collaborative projects involving ‘Widening' countries (those with lower research and innovation performance) has risen to 58%. This is a significant rise from 47% under the previous Horizon 2020 programme.
• Simplification:  Lump sum grants – a fixed amount to cover the entire project –are estimated to reduce beneficiaries' administrative costs by 14% to 30% over a project's lifetime, saving up to €63 million across all lump sum projects signed so far. These grants eliminate financial reporting requirements, making them particularly attractive to small-and-medium-sized enterprises and newcomers.

The Commission plans to leverage the insights from this interim evaluation to further enhance the impact of its policies and programmes. Upcoming Horizon Europe Work Programmes will introduce immediate measures aimed at simplifying the application process and streamlining project implementation. Additionally, targeted investments will be made to support researchers and entrepreneurs, ensuring that the EU remains an attractive destination for talent, fostering both its growth and retention. Improved collaboration across sectors will also play a key role, facilitating the translation of research knowledge and results into tangible market outcomes.